Big data analytics for industrial application PhD

This PhD project will focus on developing, evaluating, and demonstrating advanced data analytics solutions to a big data problem from aerospace or manufacturing system to uncover hidden patterns, unknown correlations, and other useful information for diagnosis and prognosis solutions which leads to enhance reliability, maintainability and readiness of the selected system.

Big Data analytics has attracted intense interest from both academia and industry recently for its attempt to extract more useful information and knowledge from Big Data. Big Data analytics will help to develop more advanced diagnosis and prognosis technologies, and, consequently, improve maintenance decision making. Currently, machine learning exists as the most promising technology of big data analytics in industrial problems.

The student will have the opportunity to work with experts in the data analytics and condition monitoring field, as well as being part of a strong and dynamic research centre at Cranfield University.

About the Host University/Centre:
Cranfield is an exclusively postgraduate university that is a global leader for transformational research and education in technology and management. Research Excellence Framework 2021 (REF) has recognised 88% of Cranfield's research as world-leading or internationally excellent in its quality. Every year Cranfield graduates the highest number of postgraduates in engineering and technology in the UK.

The Integrated Vehicle Health Management (IVHM) Centre is a major collaborative venture at Cranfield, started in 2008, with funding from the East of England Development Agency (EEDA); a consortium of core industrial partners (Boeing, BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, Meggitt, Thales, MOD and Alstom); and from EPSRC. The investment over the first 5 years of operation was approaching £10M. The Centre has grown into other sectors (rail, energy, health and agriculture) and is financially self-sustaining.

Entry Requirements:
- A minimum of a 2:1 first degree in a relevant discipline/subject area (e.g. aerospace, automotive, mechanical, electrical, chemical, computing, and manufacturing) with a minimum 60% mark in the Project element or equivalent with a minimum 60% overall module average.
- The potential to engage in innovative research and to complete the PhD within a three-year period of study.
- A minimum English language proficiency (IELTS overall minimum score of 6.5).

The candidate is also expected to:
- Have excellent analytical, reporting and communication skills.
- Be self-motivated, independent and a team player.
- Have genuine enthusiasm for the subject and technology.
- Have the willingness to publish research findings in international journals.

Funding: Self-funded.

Duration: 3 years.

Eligibility: EU and Rest of World applicants.

Supervisor: Prof Ian Jennions, Technical Director of IVHM Centre.

Doctoral Researchers' Core Development (DRCD) Programme:
As a research student at Cranfield, you will be expected to attend the DRCD programme which comprises four 1-week units covering the key stages of your research journey. Workshops are held face to face, providing the opportunity to network and collaborate with peers.